By: Joe Zaldarriaga
In fostering economic recovery and growth, the goals of the government and the private sector must be aligned as driving the country toward advancement should not depend only on the efforts of the government. All sectors of society must be on the same page and working together to achieve collective prosperity.
Among a plethora of ways the government can support the private sector is through the creation of policies that will enable its members to operate efficiently. Such creates an environment where businesses can thrive and ensures that the interests of businesses and consumers are safeguarded.
President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. recently issued Executive Order 32 (s. 2023) streamlining the permitting process for the telecommunication industry. Simply put, the essence of the new order is to ensure the uninterrupted progress of the Philippines’ digital infrastructure.
To ensure the effective implementation of the new EO, the cooperation of entities such as government agencies, government-owned and –controlled corporations, and local government units involved in issuing various permits is requisite. Existing processes on the issuance of permits, licenses, certificates, and other authorizations will likewise be rationalized to make these more efficient and, at the same time, convenient for businesses.
Further, under the new EO, all municipalities and LGUs are now required to establish a one-stop shop for the convenience of applicants who need to secure construction permits and other related certificates. In conjunction with the new order, municipalities, and LGUs will not have room to dilly-dally as they are enjoined to observe a zero-backlog policy, which will be closely monitored by the Anti-Red Tape Authority.
While standing by for the release of the implementing rules and guidelines from the Department of Information and Communications Technology, which chairs the technical working group on Telecommunications and Internet Infrastructure, members of the telecommunication industry have lauded and welcomed the new EO.
PLDT Inc. president and CEO Alfredo S. Panlilio was among the first telco leaders to hail the issuance of the EO.
“We at PLDT and Smart are grateful for the issuance of Executive Order No. 32 by President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. on Wednesday – providentially, a day after we co-organized a workshop with the Anti-Red Tape Authority on the process mapping of telco facilities’ operations and builds,” he said.
“ARTA and the rest of our partners in the public sector have been consistently helpful in realizing the PLDT Group’s goals. With EO 32 streamlining permitting processes for the development of telco and internet infrastructure, we’ll be more equipped to ensure a better quality of service for all Filipinos and in support of the government’s digitalization efforts,” Panlilio added.
The telco giant’s support for the ARTA workshops and related initiatives are aligned with the focus areas of the government-mandated Private Sector Advisory Council’s PSAC Digital Infrastructure pillar on the acceleration of the rollout of telco towers and internet infrastructure.
Panlilio also emphasized the importance of identifying gaps and addressing bottlenecks in the existing processes as these affect the company’s rollout of its fixed and wireless networks, which are vital to boosting connectivity, especially in remote areas across the country.
In this day and age, access to the internet has become indispensable. Due to its pivotal role in our lives, we have reached the point where internet connectivity can now be considered part of one’s basic human rights. To deny anyone access to this is tantamount to denying them the opportunity to learn from and be part of a connected society.